First things first. As you guys may have heard by now, famed Yugioh creator Kazuki Takahashi was found dead last week in what appeared to be a snorkeling accident. His sudden death was a shock to all within the Yugioh manga, anime, and gaming community. Let us all pray for the family and friends of Takahashi-sensei in this hard and difficult time. May he rest in peace.
Also, my job searching has been taking up some of my time so my next updates will come later than usual, but I will get them out. Just please have a little patience, especially since we are getting close to the finale of the arc. Just a few more Duels to go before that. Next up, Asuka vs Echo!
Yugioh: The Hope of Six
Chapter 41: Kaiser Arc – Part 13
Devil Kaiser felt the little energy he acquired after the defeat of Shoji Manjome. He was somewhat amused that he disguised himself as his older brother, but it paled in comparison to the fact that he was denied a full life force consumption yet again.
He was once more holding his special card in order for the energy transfer to work. He had picked it up during the Manjome brothers' Duel, but was wary. Devil Kaiser was still shaken by the encounter with the alternate Ryo Marufuji. He still could not figure out how and why it happened. It had not happened again though so that was a comfort, he supposed.
"Well, only two left for Judai Yuki's group to face…" Devil Kaiser murmured to himself as he smiled. "But even if Echo and Amon fall… it will not matter. For in the end… I will ultimately be victorious."
/\/\/\/\/\/\
"And now it's just the two of us." Amon said to Echo. After Shoji vanished from sight, Manjome stood in silence for a moment. He appeared to be lamenting the loss of his brother. He then turned and walked back to his group, struggling to do so due to his injuries.
"Judai Yuki's companions have proven to be unexpectedly formidable." Echo then turned to the man she loved. "But their winning streak ends now. Unlike the others, I will not fall." Amon smiled at her.
"I know you won't. Go up there and prove that to them all." His right hand woman nodded before kissing him passionately. Echo then headed into the arena, strapping on her Duel Disk as she went.
Outside the arena, Amon had no doubt Echo would prevail in her match. He was also sure that he almost had all the energy he needed to create the serum to bring back Shido from his coma. This certainty also brought back his old uneasiness. He knew that once Shido was awake again and fully recovered, the boy would once more be the future head of the Garam Group. Amon would be cast aside as before. He hated there was no way around that fact, but his obligation to help his brother took precedence above everything else, even his own personal goals. Still, none of these things had happened yet. For now, he would stand and watch his childhood friend and lover prevail in her match.
Once he met up with the group, Manjome could walk no more and collapsed into the arms of his waiting girlfriend. Grace helped him over to the recovering Edo and Ryo. "Thanks Grace." Manjome said gratefully. The silver haired young woman smiled warmly.
"I'll always be here to catch you when you fall." She said before telling him that Shoji was alive and well on the other side, thanks to Flame. Manjome was glad to hear the news.
"What do you think your brother will do? He probably still hates you and would want nothing to do with you ever again." Edo said. Manjome grunted as he stared at the ground.
"Who knows? I'll deal with that after we finish up this nonsense and get out of here." He said.
"Speaking of." Asuka said as she eyed Echo entering the arena and took her position, waiting for her opponent to meet with her.
"Don't worry Asuka. You got this." Judai said to his girlfriend before pecking her on the cheek, making her smile.
"I know I do. Thanks." She then got out her Disk and equipped onto her arm.
"We're all rooting for ya!" Rei said to her.
"Beat her." Serena said strongly.
"Good luck." Sho said. Asuka thanked them all before entering the arena.
From her spot, Echo crossed her arms and eyed the younger woman approaching. She saw the brief moment of affection between Asuka and Judai. It made her pity the former. She was about to send her opponent to her death in the lifeless stars. "Asuka Tenjoin, are you prepared to face your imminent demise?" Echo asked once her enemy was in position. Asuka glared at her.
"No Echo. I'm prepared to beat you and head back home with the people I care about." The marine captain scoffed.
"Don't make such claims. You do not know who you are dealing with." She replied before activating her Duel Disk.
"I actually have a pretty good idea of the kind of person you are, and I'm not worried one bit." Asuka retorted as she too activated her own Disk. Echo frowned but argued no further. She would prove her wrong soon enough.
"DUEL!"
(Asuka: 4000) (Echo: 4000)
"I'm taking the first turn! My turn! Draw!" Asuka declared, not wanting to waste time. She was pleased with what she had in her hand. "I play Polymerization to Fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater in my hand! Fusion Summon! Show yourself! Cyber Blader!" (EARTH; Level 7; ATK: 2100; DEF: 800) A lean, light skinned woman with long dark hair appeared, wearing red flame patterns on her body and a pair of ice skates on her feet. "Then I Set two cards facedown and end my turn."
"Sweet! Asuka's playing hard ball right off the bat!" Judai said, excited that his girlfriend already Summoned her Fusion Monster.
"Let's hope it will be enough." Serena said. She had never seen Asuka duel before, at least not this version. The teen girl was curious to see how strong she was.
Echo remained stone faced, not appearing the least bit intimidated. "A decent start, but it will fail you. My turn! Draw!" Her eyes slightly widened. 'I have already drawn one of them.' She knew her opening move would work. "First, I play a Continuous Magic card called Pitch-Black Sun! You will see what it does very soon. Then I play Darkness of the Elementsabers to banish Elementsaber Molehu, a DARK Monster, from my Deck to make a face-up Magic or Trap card I control unable to be negated by card effects! I choose Pitch-Black Sun! Darkness of the Elementsabers also allows me to draw another card!"
"Why does she want that card protected?" Asuka asked herself, confused by her opponent.
"Next I discard two Monsters, Elementsaber Nalu and The Supremacy Sun, to Special Summon Elementsaber Willard from my hand!" (LIGHT; Level 6; ATK: 2400; DEF: 2100) A warrior wearing armor of gold and white holding an electric covered sword appeared in Echo's Field.
'The Supremacy Sun?!' Edo thought in surprise. He recognized the name of one of the remaining Legendary Planets. He wondered why Echo would discard it to Summon a much weaker Monster. And what of the other Legendary Planet that had not shown itself yet?
"Next, I Normal Summon Aleister the Invoker!" (DARK; Level 4; ATK: 1000; DEF: 1800) Next to Echo's first Monster was a white and dark yellow robed man holding a book in one hand and an ornate scepter in the other. "Aleister's Monster Effect activates! When it is Normal Summoned, I can add "Magical Art of Invocation" from my Deck to my hand! Now I activate it, letting me Fusion Summon an "Invoked Beast" Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck using Monsters in my hand or banishing them from my Field and/or either Graveyard! I banish Aleister the Invoker from my Field and Elementsaber Nalu from my Graveyard! Fusion Summon! Appear in Defense Mode, Invoked Beast Cocytus!" (WATER; Level 6; ATK: 1800; DEF: 2900) An icy blue dragon with red eyes emerged in the weaker Monster's place.
"A good defense." Misawa noted to himself.
"Yeah, but I'm sure she's still getting started." Gloria said.
Asuka smirked. "Bad move, Echo. Since you now control only two Monsters, Cyber Blader has it's Attack Points doubled!"
(Cyber Blader's ATK: 2100 x 2 = 4200)
"I'm not concerned." Echo said cooly, making her opponent feel uneasy. "I Set my last card facedown and end my turn."
'Echo must be really confident in her strategy if my Monster getting stronger didn't rattle her.' Asuka thought wearily before preparing for her next move. "My turn! Draw!"
"At this time, the Effect of The Supremacy Sun activates!" Echo interjected before Asuka could do anything else. "Because it was sent to my Graveyard last turn, I can Special Summon it to my Field! Arise, The Supremacy Sun!" (DARK; Level 10; ATK: 3000; DEF: 3000) A black and dark orange armored figure rose from the arena floor, right between Echo's other Monsters. "And since I have more than two Monsters now, I assume your Fusion Monster loses it's power boost?" Asuka grunted as her Monster's Attack Power returned to normal.
"You got me there, but because you have just three Monsters now, Cyber Blader can negate all your card effects!" Asuka revealed.
"Except for my Pitch-Black Sun, now that it's Effects cannot be negated!" Echo reminded her opponent, who grunted in annoyance. "Speaking of my Magic card, it gives The Supremacy Sun 1000 Attack Points due to it being Summoned from my Graveyard!" Asuka frowned as the dark monster grew stronger.
(The Supremacy Sun's ATK: 3000 + 1000 = 4000)
"Asuka can't attack any of Echo's Monsters now. They're all too strong to destroy." Serena said.
"She will find a way." Sho assured her.
Asuka knew things had just gotten a bit harder. "You may have stronger Monsters, but I still have a plan to win. Don't underestimate me Echo! I Set one card facedown and end my turn."
Echo frowned at her. "It is you who should not underestimate me. I have yet to unleash my true Ace Monster. My turn! Draw! I play Dark Solar Energy! With this, I am allowed to draw two more cards since I control The Supremacy Sun!" Echo knew she would get the advantage now. "It is time to reveal my true power! I Sacrifice Elementsaber Willard and Invoked Beast Cocytus to Advance Summon my main Legendary Planet in Defense Mode: THE TYRANT NEPTUNE!" (WATER; Level 10; ATK: 0; DEF: 0) In the place of Echo's other Monsters stood a huge four legged armored lizard that held a deadly looking scythe.
"The last of the Legendary Planets." Edo muttered to himself.
"That thing's got no Attack or Defense Points." Grace said. "What's so threatening about it, and why in Defense Mode?"
"Don't judge a Monster based on it's initial stats." Samejima advised. As it turned out, he was right.
"The Tyrant Neptune gains Attack and Defense Points equal to the total Attack and Defense Points of the Monsters Sacrificed to Summon it!" Echo declared. Asuka gasped. "I take it that you've done your math?"
"Your Monster's Attack Points are now at 4200 while it's Defense Points become 5000!" She replied.
"Precisely." Echo confirmed as her Monster's power grew substantially.
(ATK: 2400 + 1800 = 4200) (DEF: 2100 + 2900 = 5000)
(The Tyrant Neptune's ATK: 4200; DEF: 5000)
"I think she's in trouble." Kenzan said, sweating from nervousness.
"There is more! The Tyrant Neptune also gains the Effects of one of the Sacrificed Monsters, namely Invoked Beast Cocytus! Now it cannot be targeted or destroyed by my opponent's card effects, and it can attack while in Defense Mode!" Echo explained further.
"She's in trouble!" Kenzan confirmed in fear. With a Monster that can Attack and Defend at the same time with such a number of Points, Asuka would really have a hard time to win the Duel.
"Don't forget! Since you're back down to two Monsters, Cyber Blader's Attack Points are doubled again!" Asuka said, her own Ace regaining it's boost to 4200.
"But now it can't negate my card effects." Echo said. "Which leads to this! I Equip The Tyrant Neptune with Moon Mirror Shield!" Placed in one hand of the lizard beast was a round golden shield resembling the sun. "This card will tip the scales in my favor just enough to win."
"How?" Asuka asked.
"You will know shortly. But first, let me ask you something." Echo said.
"What is it?" Asuka questioned. Echo then looked over at Judai, a look of great contempt on her face.
"Why are you with him? He has caused great pain to Amon and does not deserve the love of anyone."
"That again?" Judai said, remembering Amon's previous accusation of him doing something to his little brother, Shido. He looked over at Amon and got an angry glare from him.
Asuka gritted her teeth. "We all heard what Amon had said, but he didn't explain himself! Judai wouldn't hurt anyone!" Echo gave a chilling smile.
"Tell that to Shido Garam." She said.
"I never touched Amon's brother!" Judai yelled from the sidelines. His words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Amon definitely seemed unconvinced.
"You haven't answered my question, Asuka. Why are you involved with a man who clearly does not deserve to be loved?" Echo asked again. Asuka clenched her fists, clearly angered by Echo and Amon's lies.
"Judai Yuki is a kind, strong, inspiring man that more than deserves to be loved! He has certainly earned mine! He is innocent of what you and your "precious king" are accusing him of! Whatever it was that happened to Shido was not his fault!"
Echo's smile widened, knowing she got under Asuka's skin. "He's clearly blinded you to the truth of his actions. How unfortunate and tragic. My love for Amon is true and genuine, unlike the lie you share with that wretched excuse of a man." Asuka was very close to the point of punching Echo in the face.
"Don't listen to her Asuka! She's just trying to distract you from the Duel!" Masumi advised.
"She and Amon clearly have it in for Judai! Just block her out and take her down!" Johan added.
"I know a thing or two about messing with people's heads, so believe me when I say: Just tune her out!" Yuri said strongly.
Echo took pleasure in seeing Asuka very pissed. As she did, she looked fondly over at The Supremacy Sun. Originally, that card was offered to Amon himself, but he instead handed over to Echo. She accepted without hesitation. To her, that card symbolized her love and commitment to Amon. She would plan to use to help her win this battle so she could stay beside him for his upcoming new role.
On the other side, Asuka knew her friends were right. She was outraged by Echo's words, but she needed to keep her head in the game if she was going to win and survive. She wasn't given a lot of that time, though.
"If you believe in Judai that strongly, then you can be with him in the afterlife when you're both dead! Battle! The Tyrant Neptune, attack Cyber Blader! Sickle of Ruin!" The reptilian raised it's blade to strike. "Even though my Monster is in Defense Mode, it is it's Attack Points that will be applied for the battle!"
"If that is the case, then won't both Monsters be destroyed?" Asuka asked, knowing the Attack Points of both Monsters were the same.
"I won't have to worry about that! Because I'm attacking a Monster, the Effect of Moon Mirror Shield activates! During damage calculation, the Attack and Defense Points of the Equipped Monster become the same as the Attack or Defense Points of the Monster it is battling plus 100, depending on which is higher! Since Cyber Blader's Attack Power is clearly higher, The Tyrant Neptune is now just 100 points stronger! It will be enough!" Just as Echo confirmed this, her Legendary Planet slashed with it's weapon while it's shield gave a silver moonlike glow.
(The Tyrant Neptune's ATK and DEF: 4300)
"This is bad! If this works, Cyber Blader will be destroyed and leave Asuka vulnerable for a direct attack by Echo's other Legendary Planet!" Misawa said in alarm.
"Come on Asuka." Judai said quietly, believing she could turn this around… which she did.
"You won't beat me that easily! Trap card open, Doble Passe! When my opponent attacks a Monster I control, I can make it attack me instead! And since it isn't targeting a Monster anymore, your Moon Mirror Shield won't work!" Echo grunted as her Monster's Attack and Defense Points return to normal.
"The damage will still be more than your Life Points can bare!" She reminded her enemy as The Tyrant Neptune's attack bypassed Cyber Blader, heading straight for it's master. Asuka smirked.
"That was just part one of my plan! Continuous Trap open, Spirit Barrier! While this card is in play, I won't take battle damage while I control a Monster!" A protective shield formed around Asuka, blocking the attack from damaging her and her Life Points.
"Damn." Echo cursed.
"Nice." Yuri commented with a smirk.
"You haven't seen the best part yet." Judai said to him, smiling.
"Time for my counterattack! The second Effect of Doble Passe allows the Monster you just tried to attack to strike you in return! Cyber Blader, Direct Attack! Glissade Slash!" Moving with elegant grace, Cyber Blader skated toward Echo with the intent of finishing her with a single strike.
"With her own Monster with more than 4000 Attack Points, Asuka could end this now!" Fubuki said with hope. Echo was not the least be worried.
"Did you think I wouldn't be prepared for something like this? Trap card open, Mirror Force! When an opposing Monster attacks, all your Attack Mode Monsters are destroyed!" Like with Asuka, a barrier formed around the captain, but Cyber Blader ended up being shattered like glass upon contact.
"Dammit!" Asuka cursed loudly. She thought she had her then and there. "So close!"
Echo gave a triumphant grin. "How quickly the tables have turned. In the end, I did destroy your Monster after all. Now I will end you! The Supremacy Sun, Direct Attack! Solar Flare!" A stream of dark yellow fire raced toward Asuka.
"Without a Monster on her Field, Spirit Barrier won't work again!" Serena said.
"I'm pretty sure she's got that covered too." Judai told her calmly.
"I'm still not going anywhere!" Asuka declared. "Trap card open, Holy Life Barrier! By discarding a card from my hand, I can reduce all damage I take from my opponent's cards this turn to 0!" Once again, Asuka was saved from certain defeat by a strong shield.
"Phew! I really thought she was a goner that time." Grace said as she sighed with relief.
"It sure seemed that way." Gloria replied, pleased that Asuka still got out of that one unscathed.
Echo narrowed her eyes and snorted. "It seems we have arrived at a stalemate… this time. You can't protect yourself forever. Eventually I will break through and destroy you, Asuka. I end my turn."
Asuka herself was wiping sweat off her forehead. 'Echo nearly had me with that last attack. If it weren't for my Holy Life Barrier, I wouldn't be standing here. She is a tough one. I need to come up with another plan.' Asuka knew both of Echo's Legendary Planets were too strong to destroy in battle and one of them can't be taken down by card effects. Asuka needed more options. She hoped she would find one on her next turn. "My turn! Draw! I play Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two more cards!" Asuka's cards gave her the first step for a new strategy. "I Summon Cyber Petit Angel in Defense Mode!" (LIGHT; Level 2; ATK: 300; DEF: 200) A small, pink ball with arms, legs, and wings and a halo over it's head appeared.
"I hardly call that a comeback." Echo taunted. Asuka ignored her.
"When this little guy is Summoned, I can add "Machine Angel Ritual" from my Deck to my hand! Then I Set one card face down and end my turn."
"How disappointing. I will do you a favor and put you out of your misery. My turn! Draw!" She then focused on her only obstacle. "Battle! The Supremacy Sun, attack Cyber Petit Angel! Solar Flare!" One more burst of dark fire and Asuka's tiny fairy was burnt to a crisp. "Now for you. The Tyrant Neptune, Direct Attack! Sickle of Ruin!" As before, the giant reptile slashed it's weapon at it's master's adversary.
Asuka knew she wasn't going to make it out of this one without a scratch. "Trap card open, Cyber Girl Cut! This can be activated when I'm being attacked directly while I have a "Cyber" Fusion Monster in my Graveyard! Any battle damage I take this turn is reduced by half!" Echo didn't retort, but silently watched as Asuka took the attack and screamed from the pain before she fell down on her back.
(4200 / 2 = 2100)
(Asuka: 4000 - 2100 = 1900)
"ASUKA!" Judai, Sho, and Serena yelled in unison. Their friend struggled to get up again. She knew the assault would have been even worse had she not used her Trap to lessen the blow. The most she suffered were some light flesh wounds on both her arms. She then turned to her very concerned loved ones.
"I'm okay, guys. I can still do this." Asuka then turned back to her opponent, who was slightly amused to see her get up again. "The other Effect of Cyber Girl Cut lets me draw three more cards!" Asuka's eyes widened, seeing she nearly had what she needed...
"Whatever cards you have drawn, they will not save you from your unavoidable fate. I Set one card facedown and end my turn."
Asuka stared back at Echo with determination. "People can change their fate! Nothing is "unavoidable"!"
"You couldn't be more mistaken." Echo told her. "You will die here, as will Judai Yuki at the hands of my king."
"You're wrong on both counts!" Asuka shot back.
"Am I?" Echo asked with a smile. "Why is that?"
"Judai is better than Amon!" Asuka answered simply. Echo couldn't help but give soft laugh.
"You really are a naïve one. Defending a child attacker like him disgusts me."
"I told you! I did nothing to Shido!" Judai shouted angrily. Again, he was ignored.
"I pity you, Asuka Tenjoin. You will die ignorant of your mistakes… after your next turn that is."
Asuka was seething with fury. Echo's constant accusations of Judai harming Amon's brother was seriously pissing her off to no end. Not only that, but Echo saying Asuka's love for Judai was a farce compared to her "true" love for Amon infuriated her even more. She wanted to shut her up for good.
Echo was secretly enjoying herself. She knew full well Judai was innocent, but Amon was never to know that. Getting Asuka angry and upset was part of her plan to throw her off balance. She felt victory was now within her grasp.
"Asuka!" The blonde girl turned to see Judai with a stern look. "Listen to me! Forget what Echo is telling you! Let me worry about straightening things out with Amon in our upcoming match! Right now, your Duel is what matters! Just focus on kicking her butt! Don't think about anything else besides winning! I know you can do it!"
His words had the impact he hoped they would. Gradually, Asuka calmed herself down and cleared her mind once more. Her boyfriend was absolutely right. This was her battle, one she had win to stay alive. The young woman smiled at Judai and nodded. "Got it."
"Still taking orders from that no good…" Asuka then cut off Echo before she could finish her insult.
"Shut up! I'm planning to finish you this turn! My turn! Draw!" 'I've got it!' She thought in triumph. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Pitch-Black Sun! It may be protected from having it's Effects negated, but not from being destroyed!"
Echo growled from having her card blown away. Without it, The Supremacy Sun's Attack Points drop back down to 3000. "That won't matter. It is still strong enough to finish you!" She protested.
"Not if I don't let it! I now play the Machine Angel Ritual I got last turn! It allows me to Ritual Summon a "Cyber Angel" Ritual Monster from my hand by Sacrificing from my hand or Field whose total Levels have to match exactly the Level of the Monster I plan to Summon! I Sacrifice the Level 8 Archangel Christia in my hand! Ritual Summon! Show yourself, Cyber Angel Dakini!" (LIGHT; Level 8; ATK: 2700; DEF: 2400) A four armed woman now stood before Asuka. Two of it's hands held a sword while a third wielded a bow staff.
"Your Ritual Monster stands no chance against both of mine!" Echo declared.
"I wouldn't say that! When Cyber Angel Dakini is Special Summoned, I can force you to destroy one of your Monsters!" Asuka shot back, shocking her opponent.
"You dare?!" The captain yelled angrily, not believing it.
"Oh, I more than dare! Now make your choice… though I think we both know which will bite the dust!"
Echo knew Asuka was right. With The Tyrant Neptune unable to be targeted and destroyed via card effects, her only option was… "Damn you Asuka! I have no choose but to destroy… The Supremacy Sun!" Just like that, the Legendary Planet that stood for her devotion to Amon was disintegrated. "But it won't matter! It will return on my next turn!"
Asuka smiled at her adversary. "I don't believe it will."
"Why?" Echo demanded.
"Because you won't get a next turn!" Asuka replied. "I banish Cyber Girl Dance from my Graveyard to Special Summon a "Cyber" Monster from my Deck and allow a "Cyber Angel" Monster I control to attack you directly this turn!"
"When did that get in your Graveyard?" Echo asked, confused.
"I sent it there to activate my Holy Life Barrier! Now from my Deck, I Special Summon Cyber Tutu!" (EARTH; Level 3; ATK: 1000; DEF: 800) A tall burgundy haired girl wearing a blue visor and in a red and white dancing uniform appeared next to Cyber Angel Dakini. It also wore a pair of pink ballerina shoes with long ribbons spread out. "Just one more thing! I Equip Cyber Angel Dakini with Angel Wing!" A pair of white, angelic wings sprouted from the back of the Ritual Monster.
"Echo is sure in for it now!" Judai said excitedly.
"I'll bet she is." Serena said, eager to see how Asuka plans to finish off her opponent.
"Because your Monster has more Attack Points than my Cyber Tutu, the latter can attack you directly!" Asuka said to Echo, earning an annoyed glare. "Here I come Echo! Battle! Cyber Tutu, Direct Attack! Nouvelle Pointe!" Like a graceful ballerina, Cyber Tutu danced and jumped over The Tyrant Neptune to strike it's controller with a well placed kick in the shoulder.
(Echo: 4000 - 1000 = 3000)
"She had to have felt that!" Rei said as Echo held the shoulder that got struck.
"Now for my bigger Monster! Cyber Angel Dakini, Direct Attack! Angelic Slash!" The multi-armed figure began charging forward. Echo was ready for this one.
"Your second attack won't reach me! Quick-Play Magic open, Invoked Reflection! When I'm about to take battle damage from a Monster with more than 2000 Attack Points while I have an "Invoked Beast" in my Graveyard, I take no damage from that battle!"
"Sorry Echo! That's not going to happen!" Asuka told her.
"What do you mean?!" She asked, stunned to hear that.
"During the turn it was banished, Cyber Girl Dance negates the activation and Effects of all your Magic cards!"
"Which means there's no stopping the next attack!" Gloria said before Echo felt the blows from Dakini's weapons.
(Echo: 3000 - 2700 = 300)
"Just a little more and she would've won!" Grace said.
"She already has." Judai told the younger Tyler sister, to her confusion.
"Echo! Hold on!" Amon called from behind her, clearly worried for her at this point. Now it was Echo's turn to struggle with injuries.
"Dammit. I wasn't expecting this." She muttered to herself before turning to her enemy once more. "This isn't over! I still have Life Points remaining!"
Asuka continued to smile. "Not anymore! Because the Monster Equipped with Angel Wing has successfully inflicted battle damage to you, you take an additional 300 points of damage!"
"WHAT?!" Echo could no longer hide her fear.
"It's over!" Asuka declared proudly before Dakini's wings gave a mighty flap at Echo, depleting the last of her Life Points.
(Echo: 0)
"No. Echo…" Amon murmured, greatly saddened by her loss.
"Alright! That's my girl!" Judai cheered, fist pumped in the air.
Echo lay there, on her back, beaten and emotionally crushed. The marine captain could not believe she had suffered a defeat like this. She was supposed to win and stay by the side of her king and lover. She had never foreseen this outcome. What was even worse was that Amon bore witness to her downfall.
There was one positive outcome from this, though. While she failed to win her Duel, she never revealed the true circumstances behind Shido's "coma". Amon could never know what really happened to him, even at the cost of her own life. Ironically, it looks like that would be the case. 'Amon… I am sorry I failed you. My wish was to see you become the king you were always meant to be. What will ultimately happen to your foster brother may be unforgivable, but at the very least… you will never learn of it.'
Echo knew of the real Shido's fate, as well as the fake. The final stage of Amon's rise to power will come when the serum would be given to "Shido". Instead of reviving him like he was told, Amon will watch in horror as his little brother suffered a violent seizure before collapsing into his bed… his vitals flatlining. Believing him to be dead, Amon will take his place as the true head of the Garam Group.
Asuka, on the other hand, looked down at her with great pity. As misguided as Echo was, she clearly loved Amon and had dedicated her life to helping him. 'It's sad, really. If only those two started on better paths, then maybe things would have turned out differently for them.'
"Asuka…" Echo said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Yes?" Asuka asked.
"I have underestimated your love and dedication to Judai Yuki. It is clear the bond you two share cannot be broken, no matter what is said. Take care of him. That is all that I ask." Asuka nodded, understanding.
"I will." She replied while looking back at Judai, who smiled back.
Echo smiled herself, content that things will work out for Amon in the end. Right at that moment, The Tyrant Neptune and The Supremacy Sun rematerialized on either side of Echo, grabbed her by the arms, and held her up.
The pair began the usual process of sucking the life out of the fallen Duelist. However, something happened that no one expected. Instead of those strange tentacles, a giant clawed hand reached down from the empty space above to ensnare Echo.
"What the hell's that?!" Kenzan shouted in surprise.
"Definitely nothing good." Yusuke murmured.
The hand then squeezed it's captive, making her scream in pain in the process. And then she changed into a mass of dark red light, pulsing vibrantly. With it's prize, the giant hand retreated into the vast empty space before vanishing from view. The Legendary Planets also disappeared with it's victim gone.
"Man, just when things couldn't get any weirder in this place." Manjome noted.
"No arguments here." Judai said, now feeling more uneasy than ever.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Worlds away in Lightning's Sanctuary, E'Rah took hold of the energy that just came to her. She was alone at a balcony overlooking the dark overview. Lightning and her beloved Zarc were busy with their own thing, and she was doing hers.
In her hand was the dark red energy ball that used to be Echo. The Goddess of Despair smiled evilly at her disciple's essence. "Well Echo… it seems our agreement has been settled. I do not know what caused your life to expire, but you should be grateful to me for saving your soul. And with this, Lightning's plan will now be one step closer to completion." She could feel it. Soon, her dark mate would be able to leave this digital plane, and she would be there with him… free to annihilate all of humanity everywhere. And their offspring would join them on the massacre.
E'Rah then gave a laugh that would send shivers down the spine of any mortal who heard her, knowing absolutely nothing would stop them.
To be continued.